Conviction in High-Profile Stabbing: Hadi Matar Found Guilty of Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie

Hadi Matar, 27, was convicted of attempted murder for stabbing author Salman Rushdie on a New York stage in 2022. Matar's attack left Rushdie blind in one eye. He could face up to 25 years in prison. Matar's motives may relate to a fatwa issued against Rushdie in 1989.

Hadi Matar, a New Jersey resident, was convicted on Friday for attempting to murder renowned author Salman Rushdie. The verdict comes after Matar repeatedly stabbed Rushdie during a public lecture in New York in 2022, leaving the Booker Prize-winning author blind in one eye.

Jurors deliberated for less than two hours before reaching the decision, also finding Matar guilty of assault for injuring another man on stage. The attack occurred at the Chautauqua Institution, where Matar charged the stage and launched his assault on Rushdie.

Matar's public defender indicated disappointment with the verdict, as the assailant faces up to 25 years in prison. Matar's actions have been linked to a 1989 fatwa issued against Rushdie, with potential terrorism-related charges awaiting trial.

(With inputs from agencies.)